Premier League Legend Claims Dele Alli Can Surpass His Own Achievements at Spurs

Ryan Jones

90Min10 April 2017

​Frank Lampard has stated that Tottenham's Dele Alli could become one of the best attacking midfielders in Premier League history and claims that the Spurs man is better at 20 then he was at the same age, via ​Sky Sports.

Alli has once again been a massive part in Tottenham's title challenge this season after netting 16 times and assisting a further six in his 30 league appearances and after his sensational finish against Watford on Saturday he has kept the side within seven points of leaders Chelsea.

Tottenham Hotspur v Watford - Premier League

The Spurs youngster is currently the highest scoring midfielder in the league this season and Lampard, who holds the record for most Premier League goals by a midfielder, had nothing but praise for him.

He told Goals on Sunday: "Dele Alli is a special player. He is better than me when I was 20, that's for sure.

"He is like a second striker at the moment but I think that makes sense because the way they play, with the quality in and around the box, he needs to be up there all the time.

"He's got the knack for runs, he scores great goals like he did yesterday. Seeing goals that he scored in the week against Swansea, he was running in the six-yard box. Too many attacking midfield players get towards the penalty spot and then stop and don't go that extra mile but there's so many goals to be had. But he does."

Lampard's record currently sits at 177 but believes Alli has the quality to surpass him.

“Could he score more than me? He could do. Of all the midfield players I’ve seen who scores goals, he’s the one who is the best at it," he added.

Tottenham Hotspur v Watford - Premier League

"Those numbers are great. We're watching him every week, he's got all the ability it's just how he goes now.

"It's not just what he does on the pitch but off the pitch, the people around him, how he grows as a player but with that – as a starting point at 20 years of age, he's got the world at his feet."

Alli is also favourite to take the PFA Young Player of the Year award for a second straight season, which will also mean a Spurs player has won it five out of the last six seasons.